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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. B. SMITH. COIN CONTROLLED WEIGHING SCALES.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. R. SMITH. GOIN CONTROLLED WEIGHING SCALES.

No. 437,166. Patented Sept. 23. 1890.

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rut nouns rzrtls m, Mom-umq, wAsulmTcN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM ROBERT SMITH, OF N E\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD AUTOMATIC SCALE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COIN-CONTROLLED WEIGHING-SCALES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,166, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed December 12,1889. Serial No. 333,441- (No model.)

State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin Controlled lVeighing-Scales, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists, first, in a device for To preventing the shock given the indicating mechanism by a sudden movement imparted to the rack-bar by the tension of the weighing-spring; secondly, in a spring-suspending device adapted to prevent the twisting of the spring and its connecting mechanism; thirdly, in a device attached to the coinreceptacle of a coin-operated weighing-scale whereby on the insertion of the coin the indicating mechanism is released and allowed to operate and onapartial upward movement of the rack which actuates the indicating mechanism the latter is locked to prevent a repetition of the weighing without depositing an additional coin.

\Vhile my improvements are adapted to all spring-scales having-a reciprocating rack-bar actuating the indicating mechanism, whether said bar is rigidly attached or not to the platform lever-connections, I have shown them 0 in the accompanying drawings applied to a coin-operated weighing-scales of the class described in Letters Patent No. 365,353, granted Smith and Vashburn June 21, 188.7,in which the rack-bar is independentthat is to say,

has no rigid attachment to any part of the mechanismand is free to move independently either of the frame or of the bearings.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of so much of a weighing-scales as is necessary to show my improvement, with the front of the case and the dial removed. Fig.

2 is a side View of the same, partly in section,

on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in 4 5 perspective of the coin-chute with part of one side removed, showing the releasing and looking devices; and Fig. at is a view, also in perspective, of the spring-connection between the pinion and the pointer-shaft.

A is a rod, to the lower end of which the lever of the platform-scales is attached, suspended from the frame or case B by a spring C, attached to a rod D, passing through the casing B. The rod D at its lower extremity is secured to the spring C by means of a cap E, fitting over the end of the rod and having a binding-screw e, which screws into a circumferential groove d, made around the end of the rod. By loosening the binding-screw e, the spring C may be turned in either direction. The rod D is screw-threaded where it passes through the case 13, so that by turning the nut 61', by which it is suspended, the spring C may be raised or lowered. A setscrew D, held by a standard ,secured to 65 the back of the case, passes through a slot 61 in rod D, preventing the turning of the rod. Any twist in the spring C tending to rotate the rod A is then removed by loosening the screw 6 in the cap E and turning the cap, as described.

F is a vertically-sliding rack-bar, having teeth f, which engage with the pinion G of the pointer-shaft H. The rack-bar F slides in bearings t' 2', attached to the plate I, secured to the case B.

a is a stop on the leverrod A, against which the rack-bar F abuts when it is allowed to fall by the releasing mechanism.

L is a coin-chute, having one of its sides M So pivoted at m. Pivoted to the free end of the side M is a latch-bar N, which, sliding in bearings t" on the back plate I, engages with the teeth f on rack-bar F, to which it is held in its normal position by the spring at, attached 8 5 to the chute L. The rearward movement of the latch bar Nis limited by the set-screw n, also attached to the chute L. The other side M of the chute L is also pivoted at m by means of a lug m secured near its upper 0 extremity. The side M extends inwardly, so as to form, in connection with the side M of the chute when in their normal position, (see Fig. 1,) a receptacle of only snflicient dimen* sions to retain the coin. The upper extremity of the side M has aforked-shaped extension '0, between the prongs of which is pivoted a weighted lever P, the end 19 of which rests in its normal position in the notch f in rackbar F, but is arranged to tip up and yield to the teeth f in the rack-bar on the descent of the latter, and to engage with them on the ascent of the rack-bar. The locking of the weighted lever and teeth 1 of the rack-bar on the ascent of the latter tilts outwardly the side M of the chute on the pivot m, and thus increases the space between the sides M and M. A set-screw m which passes through a slot in the side M and fastens into the prolongation of the neck of the chute, limits the outward throw of the side M, on reach ing which the weighted lever yields to the ascent of the rack.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: The mechanism being in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, on placing a weight upon the platform of the scales the rod A descends, but the rack-bar F remains in place, being locked by the latch N. The weight is next indicated by introducing a coin into the chute L, which in its fall pushes back the side M against the spring 12, and thus withdraws the latch N and allows the rackbar F to fall until it abuts against the stop a and indicates the weight by revolving the pinion G and with it the pointer-shaft II and pointer; The coin meanwhile remains in the chute-receptacle. On a partial removal of the weight the rod A begins to ascend, lifting with it the rack F, and causing the weighted lever P to engage with the teeth f on the rack-bar. The further rise of the rack-bar then causes the side M of the chute L to turn on its pivot 'm' and release the coin in the chute-receptacle, allowing it to fall through. This in turn releases the side M of the coinchute, which is then pushed back into position by the spring 01., causing the latch N to lock the rack-bar against any further descent. On the entire removal of the weight from the platform the rack and connecting mechanism return to their first position, with the end 19 It is evident that upon a sudden upward movement of the rack F the pinion G is at liberty to revolve more rapidly than the shaft owing to the yielding of the spring, their normal relations being subsequently restored by the tension of the spring drawing them to their normal position. r v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let- Go ters Patent, is-

1. In spring weighing-scales, the combination of the threaded suspending-rod D, slotted at d', having the circumferential'groove d,

the cap E, the set-screw 8, spring 0, nut d,

set-screw D, and case B, substantially as set forth.

2. In a coin-operated weighing-scales, the combination, with a rack actuating the indi-' cating mechanism, of a coin-chute havlng a freely-swinging pivoted side, a coin-receptacle, of which said side forms apart, andconnections between said pivoted side and the rack, whereby the ascent of the rack opens the coin-receptacle to allow the coin to drop through, substantially as set forth.

3. In a coin-operated weighing-scales, the combination, with a rack actuating the indicating mechanism, of alocking and releasing latch controlled by the coin, a coin-receptacle,

. N, the pivoted side, M ,having the forked ex- 0 tension 0, the weighted lever P, andthe'teeth f on the rack-bar, whereby on the insertion of a coin the rackis released and on the ascent of the rack the coin is allowed to drop through and the rack locked against descent,

substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM ROBERT SMITH.

Wi tn esses:

WALTER CLARK, O. F. HIBBARD. 

